Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-07-08
BERTHINESKAPTIVES.

save the rustling Of t.snow falling upon
the ceGa1s as it had been falling since
midday, fine, powdery snow that spread
upon the branches a frozen moss, upon
the tirs q coating of silver and upon the
roads and pathways an immense carpet,
soft and white. and which intensified the
stiffness of this sea of trees.
Before the door of forester's hut a
young woman with her sleeves rolled up
to the elbows was cutting wood with an
ak upon n stone. Tall, supple and strong,
she was true daughter of the forest and
the child and wife of a forester Sud
denly voice came from the interior OF
the house:
1--WE are alone this evening, Berthine;
come in and make everything fast. There
may be Prussians as well as wolves in the
forest tonight"
The wood chopper responded with re-
sounding stroke of the AK.
81 have nearly finished, mother" she
said; besides, there is no need of fear
yet; it is still daylight" Nevertheless,
she brought in her fagots and sticks OF
wood, and piling them up in the chimney
corner went ont again to close up the
she'd; then re-entering the room she
pushed to the door and locked and bolted
it.
Her mother, an old and wrinllled
woman whom age had made timid and
nervous, was seated by the fireside spin
ming.
II do not like it, Berthine, said she;
''when your father is from home, two
women are not strong
But | am not afraid" the girl re-
| sponded; Il can defend myself from a
wolf or a Prussian all the same" and
she glanced significantly at huge re-
volver suspended above the chimney
piece.
Berthine's husband had been in the
army ever since the beginning of the
| PruSsan invasion, and these two women
had remained alone with only the old
father, Nicholas Pichon, the gamekeeper,
as he was called in the neighborhood,
who had obstinately refused to leave his
dwelling and seek protection in the city.
The city nearest the Pchon hut was
Rethel, a quaint and ancient place porched
uDon a high rock. Filled with patriot
ism. the citizens had decided to resist in
vader5-to shut themselves up, and if nee
cssary sustain a siege such as had taken
place in the time of their forefathers-for
twice already the inhabitants of Hethel,
in the days of Henry " and Louis XIV,
had rendered themselves thus illustrious.
| Purchasing a supply of cannon and guns,
eouipping a militia, and forming them
selves into battalions and companies, they
exercised daily on the Place d Armes.
| Bakers. grccers, butchers, notaries, law
vers. cabinet makers, librarians and even
druggists maneuvered in turn at the regu-
lation hour under the command OF Nj.
Iavigne, an eX-oiicer of dragons, and
to-day, thanks to his having married
the daughter and heiress of the shop
keeper, Raredan, the richest and most IN
fluental man in tho city.
And thus they patiently waited the
Prussians, the Prussians who never came,
though twice they had been seen in the
forest, in the ncighborhood of Pichon' s
hut, who had run to warn the city.
This house of Nicholas Pichon S served
as q sort of advance post in the forest OF
Aveline: and twice a week the old mar
went into the city to purchase provisions
and to carry To the citizens the latest new
of the campaign.
His GRAND to Rcthol to-day was to an
nounce that small detachment Of Ger
man infantry had halted near his hous
about o'clock that morning. They di
not remain long, nor did he know the di
rection they had taken, but all tho same
as soon as they had gone again Picho
called his dogs and started for the city
instructing his wife and daughter to bo
and barricade the house when nigh
should fall, and on no account to ope
} the door, no matter who might knock.
Berthine was afraid of nothing, but I'll
: old woman trembled and constantly r.
t heated: at will end badly-you will Sc
$ lit will end badly, suro!" and to-nigt
s she seemed moro unquiet than usual
8 "Knowest thou at what hour thy {;
r ther will return" she said to her daugl
% ter, presently,
:. .Not before II, certainly. When f
k Their dimes with the major commander
50 dhe title Lavigne had conferred upc
/ himself), he never returns till late, 81
W Berthine hung the pot over the fire OF
prepared to make the soup. All at on
she ceased to stir it, she was listening
an indstinct noise that came down Il
I'd hue of the chimney.
e. 'Some one is walking in the wood
OF she said; ''seven or eight people at least
10 The old woman, frightened to deaf
us stopped her wheel and began to whir
Is per.
z Mon Dieu, Berthine!' she cried; san
re thy father is from homer
he But Berthine did not reply, for at t
is moment there was knock at the doc
of and q cultural voice demanded adm
SIS lance.
es "Open or I'll preak tie toor," the sal
It voice shouted little later. Slipping
b revolver into her pocket, the young "
d. man crossed the room and, placing |
mouth to the keyhole, shouted in retul
Re. And who are you?' "a tetachmC
b. from tie udder sidel" "Well, what
es, yeu WANT Something's to eat; |
us paen lost since morning in tie woods; OF
ait or III preak to toor.''
M Without waiting for him to put
ey threat into execution, she slipped